The art of monochromatic make-up

23rd August 2023

Emolyne is the home of monochromatic lips and nails thanks to our 30 shades of red and nude to suit every skin tone. It’s a timeless look that was first popularised in the 1940s when Revlon launched its ‘Lips and Tips’ campaign and it has been favoured by chic women ever since. Think Marilyn Monroe in the 1950s, Elizabeth Taylor in the 1970s, Naomi Campbell in the 1990s, Rihanna in the 2010s and Margot Robbie today. There’s something effortlessly sophisticated about matching your lip and nail colour that’s not only failsafe but easy to achieve with Emolyne.

“Right now, it feels cool to be pared back. The simpler your makeup is, the more beautiful you are,” says makeup artist Victoria Bond on the art of monochromatic lip and nail. She recommends starting by choosing your desired lip colour then matching your Nail Lacquer accordingly.

For a modern take on Hollywood glamour, go for red. “My favourite Emolyne red is Port Elizabeth. It’s a bright, joyful red. I’ve used it on shoots and everyone always comments on how stunning it is. Keep the skin and eyes dewy to allow the lips to pop.” Meanwhile for a daytime event, nudes are an easy way to go. “I like Emolyne’s Cairo shade, which has a slight orange tone to it. You can opt for a smokey eye and keep everything else neutral.”

When it comes to finding the perfect shade for you, Clare says the best approach is to just have fun and follow your gut. “Get some girlfriends round and try on lots of lipsticks. You’ll know intuitively what suits you and with Emolyne, there’s a shade there for everyone.” Once you’ve hit the jackpot, her top tip is to allow Emolyne’s The Complete Kit to guide your application. “Always remember to line the whole lip with Defining Lip before applying Velvet Lip. You get a good shape and it’ll last longer.”

Recent seasons have also seen monochromatic makeup having a moment. Another red carpet go-to, it’s about extending the tone on tone look across the face to cheeks and eyes. This achieves a fully balanced and flawless beauty that allows you to play with textures and dimensions, plus it can be ramped up or down depending on your mood. A universally flattering look, it takes you from day to night with ease. And the best bit is, you only need a minimal number multi-tasking products.

“You can create a whole look with one lipstick,” Victoria promises. “Use red on the cheeks as an amazing blush – it goes pink and blends into a natural glow. And nude lipstick works great on the eyes to give you a lovely sheen. For high impact lips apply Emolyne’s Velvet Lip first, then Gloss Lip on top. Then all you need is some mascara and you’re good to go.”